The most important preparation a custodial parent can do is building and maintaining a complete case file. This file is the foundation of every enforcement action. What Your File Should Contain Organize by category: (1) Court orders — every support order, modification, and related order. (2) Payment records — every payment received with date, amount,…

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More answers to common questions from custodial parents across California. Additional Questions Can I collect from my ex’s new spouse? Generally no — the new spouse’s income is not directly subject to support obligations. What if the paying parent is paid under the table? Income imputation based on earning capacity is available — past earnings…

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Cryptocurrency presents enforcement challenges but is not untouchable. Courts have ordered disclosure of cryptocurrency holdings, and judges are increasingly sophisticated about digital assets in family law cases. Enforcement Approaches Request disclosure of all cryptocurrency accounts and wallets in discovery. Subpoena known exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini) for account information. Income from cryptocurrency trading is income for…

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This month’s series covered California child support enforcement from every angle. As we close May, here are the three most important things every custodial parent in California should know. The Three Most Important Facts 1. There is no statute of limitations on child support arrears in California — money owed to your child never expires.…

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Some child support cases require locating a paying parent, documenting lifestyle evidence of hidden income, or serving process on someone who is evading service. A licensed private investigator can help with all of these. What a PI Can Do A PI can: locate the paying parent’s current address and employer, document lifestyle evidence (vehicle, home,…

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This final post in May’s series brings together the complete resource guide for the California Child Support Recovery System — what it covers, what it provides, and how to use it. The Complete System The California Child Support Recovery System provides everything a custodial parent needs to enforce a California child support order without an…

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A direct written demand to the paying parent — before court action — serves two purposes: it gives them a chance to pay without litigation, and it documents their willful nonpayment if they ignore it. What to Include State: the total amount overdue (with the calculation period), the date by which payment must be received,…

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Child support is not about the relationship between the parents. It is about the child’s right to financial support from both parents. Understanding this shifts the perspective from a personal dispute to an enforcement of a legal obligation that exists for the child’s benefit. The Underlying Right California Family Code § 3900 states that both…

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For custodial parents who are opening a new DCSS case or meeting with DCSS for the first time in years, knowing what to bring and what to expect reduces anxiety and improves results. What to Bring Bring: your identification, the child’s birth certificate, the existing support order (if one exists), your complete payment history, the…

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Child support is neither deductible for the paying parent nor taxable income for the custodial parent. But there are tax issues that arise in child support cases that affect both parties. Key Tax Issues The dependency exemption and child tax credit belong to the custodial parent in most cases, unless a written agreement or court…

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